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"It's not Christmas all year" Klopp aware of difficult fixture schedule after Napoli draw
Jurgen Klopp says his Liverpool side were fully focused on their match with Napoli and not thinking about a potential ‘dead rubber’ had they taken all three points.
A win over the Italians would have seen Liverpool going into their final group game against Red Bull Salzburg having already sealed qualification.
However, after only managing a 1-1 draw, the Reds now cannot afford to lose is Austria - assuming Napoli beat whipping boys Genk.
Speaking to BT sport afterwards, Klopp insists the Red Bull match wasn’t on their minds.
“I never planned this” he said. “It was just from outside, why would we be thinking about Salzburg when we were playing Napoli?”
“People ask us if we’d like ‘this or that’ but we can’t wish for these things - It’s not Christmas all year.”
Klopp then reiterated that his side’s aim in Austria doesn’t change, regardless of the slight setback against Napoli.
“When we go to Salzburg, if we had done it [won] tonight we would try to win there, so it's still our goal.”
The holders and Premier League leaders have a hectic spell of fixtures on the horizon including the Club World Cup, a League Cup quarter final and now, a crucial Champions League fixture.
A draw on matchday six will be enough to progress but Klopp’s side will be disappointed to be denied early qualification to the last 16 by a stubborn Napoli side who actually took the lead at Anfield through Dries Mertens.
Dejan Lovren equalised for the Reds in the second half but they were unable to find a winner on a frustrating night.
"The way Napoli set up, it didn't help that they scored,” Klopp added. “They could follow their plan and we had to increase pressure all the time.
“Second half it was just intense and of course it's not easy, they really defended the goal they had.”
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